Santa Barbara Public Library Holds Virtual Reality Open Houses

Libraries have often served readers as an escape from reality with stories in books – that mission of exploration is going one step further with the introduction of virtual reality technology.

The Santa Barbara Public Library is one of the 100 public libraries in California selected to receive an Oculus Rift headset, an Oculus controller, and a computer pre-loaded with educational and informational virtual reality applications produced by Oculus VR, a division of Facebook Inc.

Individuals over the age of 13 are invited to put a headset on and experience the VR equipment at one of the library’s upcoming Virtual Reality Open Houses:

• October 25, 2017 – 5:30PM – 7:00PM
• December 6, 2017 – 5:30PM – 7:00PM

The Open Houses will be held in the Tech Lab at the Central Library.

The minimum age to use the virtual reality equipment is 13 years-old. All users of the virtual reality equipment will need to complete a use waiver before using the VR equipment. Users under 18 will need to have a parent or guardian sign the participant’s waiver.

Library staff are on hand during these open houses to set-up the equipment, assist users during their Oculus sessions, and answer questions.

This equipment and programming is a part of a pilot program was made possible from a partnership between: Oculus, a division of Facebook Inc., the California State Library, and Califa, a nonprofit consortium that represents 220 libraries in California.

Information about the Santa Barbara Public Library System locations, hours, events, and programs is available at SBPLibrary.org. All Library programs are free and open to the public.